Facebook + Snapchat = Instagram. Following the footsteps of of Facebook Live and Periscope, Instagram is introducing Live Video on Instagram Stories, as well as photos and videos you can send to friends in direct messages that disappear.
Announcing Live Video on Instagram Stories
Live video on Instagram Stories helps you connect with your friends and followers right now. When you’re done, your live story disappears from the app so you can feel more comfortable sharing anything, anytime.
It’s easy to go live — just swipe right from feed to open the camera, tap the “Start Live Video” button and start sharing for up to an hour. Your friends may get a notification when you go live so they can tune in. While you’re live, you can pin a comment for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether.
When someone you follow starts a live story, you’ll see “Live” under their profile photo in the stories bar. During the broadcast, you can comment and like as much as you want. You can also check out new live stories on Explore. Tap “Top Live” to see exciting live stories happening at that moment and swipe right and left to easily skip around.
Live video on Instagram Stories and Explore will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks.
Launching Disappearing Photos and Videos for Groups and Friends in Instagram Direct
Now you can send disappearing photos and videos directly to groups and individual friends in a spontaneous, pressure-free way.
Since launching improvements to Instagram Direct last year, the number of people using Direct each month has grown from 80 million to 300 million people around the world. In fact, many of them use group threads every day to stay in touch with their closest friends and family.
Today’s update keeps regular direct messages the same and adds a more visual way to connect with your closest friends — all in one convenient place.
Swipe right into the camera to take a photo or video, then tap the arrow to send it privately. You can choose a group or create one in just a few taps — and you can also send to individual friends at the same time. Send anything you want, from inside jokes to your worst selfies. Unlike other messages in Direct, these photos and videos disappear from your friends’ inboxes after they have seen them. And you’ll see if they replayed it or took a screenshot.
Whether your account is set to public or private, you can only send disappearing photos and videos to people who follow you.
To open your inbox, tap the new paper airplane icon at the top right corner of your feed or swipe left. You’ll see disappearing photos and videos in a bar at the top. Tap the ones with blue rings to see what your friends sent you. In a group, you can see everyone’s responses — and who else has seen them — in a slideshow format. Then when you’re done, just tap their faded profile photo to send a quick response.
Disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct will start rolling out globally today.
You can learn more about live video on Instagram Stories and disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct in the Instagram Help Center.
